Attorney Saura Sahu speaks alongside members and fans of the Detroit music group Insane Clown Posse during a Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2014 press conference announcing a lawsuit filed against the FBI.(Khalil AlHajal | MLive)

DETROIT, MI -- The Insane Clown Posse, a Detroit music duo known for explicit lyrics, face paint and a diehard following that created the "Juggalo" subculture, is suing the FBI over its designation of Juggalos as members of a criminal gang.

Four ICP fans, along with performers Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope -- whose real names are Joseph Bruce and Joseph Ulster, respectively -- filed the lawsuit in federal court with help from the American Civil Liberties Union.

"To brand an entire group based on the actions of a few, it is wrong, it is ridiculous and the constitution does not allow it," said Saura Sahu, a lawyer working with the ACLU.

Brandon Bradley, an ICP fan who identifies as a Juggalo, claims he's been stopped, photographed and questioned by police in Sacramento, Calif. on three occasions since the FBI assessment because of his Juggalo tattoos and clothes.

"I hate the fact that all the cars driving past thought I was a criminal, even though I had done nothing wrong," said Bradley in a Detroit press conference Wednesday.

"I want to stand up for our right to be ourselves."

The lawsuit asks the court to call the gang designation unconstitutional and prohibit law enforcement from gathering intelligence about Juggalos "as a whole."

The group's two members said Wednesday they've seen significant business losses and diminishment of activity within the Juggalo subculture as a result of fears related to the gang designation.

"We lost $700,000 last year at the Gathering of the Juggalos becaue attendance was down. We're still proud of it because it's the gathering of the Juggalos," said Ulster. "But in the FBI's eyes, it's a gang rally."